Board approves Girls' Spark club to provide female students peer support and mental‑health programming

Students presented Girls' Spark to the board as a peer‑support and social‑emotional learning club that will meet every other week and host three or four workshops per year. Student speakers said more than 45 girls had signed an interest form and that the club would not require district funding in its first year; after year one, per‑speaker fees were estimated at $150 to $350 if outside speakers are retained.

Board members asked about counselor availability and protocols for responding to students who disclose serious issues. Dr. Daniels and administration representatives told the board that clubs must have a faculty adviser present at meetings and that advisers would connect students to counselors or principals and then activate the district’s response process when needed.

The board approved Girls' Spark as an extracurricular activity under board policy 122 and encouraged the student leaders to continue coordinating with advisers and counselors and to return to the board after one year with an update on participation and outcomes.

What was approved: Girls' Spark club as an extracurricular activity; no district funding required for year one as presented. The board asked the club to coordinate training and clear reporting protocols with district staff.